Colleen Purcell Harris

Colleen Purcell Harris, 70, of Valdosta, went peaceably in her sleep to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ at 7 a.m. Sunday morning, November 5, 2017, at Langdale Hospice House. She was born on June 23, 1947 to Annie Belle Purcell and the late Connally H. Purcell in Toccoa, GA. Colleen professed her faith in Christ at the age of ten and was baptized at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Marietta by Rev. Hovie Lister, her pastor. She lived in Atlanta and Marietta until she met her future husband, Robin Harris, while he was attending the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1965. She graduated from Bauder Fashion School and they were married at Mt. Zion Baptist on June 18, 1967. She worked at Georgia Tech until Robin graduated and was commissioned to the United States Air Force in Texas, obtaining the rank of Captain. Over the years, she had several jobs in Banking, Law Firms and Real Estate offices while obtaining her Real Estate License. She graduated from Valdosta Technical Institute with an associates in Mechanical Drafting and was the Valedictorian. Colleen volunteered at the Mailbox Club, Inc. for many years, grading Bible lessons and supporting the ministry to children. She became an avid Oil Painting Artist with a self-taught, God given talent. She has many paintings of family members, bible characters, and people of interest on the national scene. She won many awards and prizes and honorable mentions including first place in the Spring into Art competition here in Valdosta. She had personal exhibits of her work in Waycross and Albany. Her paintings were juried into exhibits in New York, California, Georgia, Texas, Alabama and Florida. She loved painting portraits and some landscapes. She and Robin were faithful members of Crossroads Baptist Church. She also loved to fish and hunt with her husband Robin and often outdid him!
Survivors include her husband of 50 years, Robin Harris, of Valdosta; her mother, Mrs. C. H. Purcell of Marietta; her twin sister, Connie Wedincamp of Lawrenceville; her brother and sister in law, Dr. Roger & Nancy Purcell of Brunswick, and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by a brother in law, Tom Wedincamp.
The funeral for Colleen will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, November 9, 2017 in the Chapel of Carson McLane Funeral Home. Dr. Ken Alford and Mr. John Mark Eager will officiate. Interment will follow at Sunset Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday evening from 6 until 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mailbox Club, 404 Eager Road, Valdosta, Ga 31602 or the Crossroads Baptist Church Building Fund. Condolences may be conveyed to the family on the obituary page of www.mclanecares.com Carson McLane Funeral Home